Introduction

Spanning more than 50,000 hectares of mountains, valleys, and lakes in BC's West Kootenay region, the Darkwoods Forest Carbon Project sits within the Traditional Territories of the Ktunaxa, Syilx (Okanagan), and Sinixt Peoples. Created in 2008 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, it is one of the country's most ecologically significant private conservation areas, providing vital habitat for species at risk including grizzly bears, wolverines, and the endangered white bark pine, while supporting clean water and long-term climate resilience.

The Darkwoods Forest Carbon Project generates verified emission reductions and removals by avoiding emissions created by the logging that would have occurred under a baseline scenario. It is registered under Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), as well as the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCB) and the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta), recognizing its benefits for communities and biodiversity.

Our Role

Ostrom Climate co-developed the Darkwoods Forest Carbon Project in 2008 alongside 3GreenTree. In 2023, we were engaged by the Nature Conservancy of Canada to take over as technical manager, a role that includes overseeing the ongoing verification process across the VCS, CCB, and SD VISta standards. Our involvement ensures the project continues to meet the highest standards of carbon integrity while delivering on its conservation commitments.